Coat of Arms

Often we see a coat of arms displayed as a super fancy crest with lots of embellishments.

Coat of Arms of England, used from 1509 to 1554. Image by Sodacan, CC license, Wikimedia.

The actual coat of arms though is the simpler symbols, colors and images in the center of all that fluff.

This was the royal coats of arms of England from 1399 until 1603. Image created by Sodacan, CC license, Wikimedia.

Here is a picture of Tim with the coat of arms he designed and put on his shield. We learned about the significance of the colors and symbols used in coats of arms and then he designed exactly what he liked. The shield is cardboard, painted with a coat of spray paint all in one color, and then painted over with designs.

Additional Layers

Research your family history. You may come across a noble line with a coat of arms. My family has both English and French nobility, and lots of peasants too (grin).

Discuss the difference between middle ages warfare and modern warfare. Focus on not only the scales and weapons and tactics, but the attitudes about war.

Only noble families with a long history connected with the land would have had a coat of arms. In most places in the world, even places with a “noble class” people are seen as equal now, no matter their wealth or social status. What things brought about that major change in society?

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Author: Layers of Learning

We are two sisters and homeschool moms who created a family-style, hands-on and engaging curriculum for history, geography, science, and the arts. We sell fantastic unit studies that will transform your homeschool.